Sigh...this is almost over. One more chapter probably.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own the 1-800-where-r-you characters, okay? Meg Cabot does.

Happily Ever After?

Chapter 6

The rest of that day was really hectic. I waited in the waiting room while Rob was being operated on. Apparently, the bullet nearly punctured his lung and it had to be removed immediately. It was really scary, just seeing him like that. Like he was dead.

So I waited in the waiting room for two hours. Two hours I waited, not sure if he would come out okay. Two hours I spent silently crying in the corner of the waiting room. Of course, I got sympathetic glances from some other people waiting. Either that or I got some really weird looks.

Then one of the doctors came out and told me they had finished and that he was being transported to a private room.

I followed the doctor to the room Rob was in. He was unconscious for the time being, the doctor had told me.

"When do you think he'll wake up?" I asked anxiously, my voice cracking.

"The anesthesia was pretty strong, so I would say anywhere from an hour to four hours. It depends on the person."

I nodded silently and the doctor left the room after making sure all the IVs were hooked up correctly.

I pulled a chair up to the side of the bed and just looked at him. This was all my fault. All of it.

I let a tear roll down my cheek. Then another one.

I wiped them away and took Rob's hand in mine, holding on to it like it was my life. I could not explain why I was suddenly feeling like I was dying. Rob wasn't dying or anything, but just seeing him on the bed like that made it seem like he was.

I wonder if this was what he felt when I was taken away. If he felt like he had to save me, if it was the last thing that he did.

A sob ripped out of my throat. No one but Rob was around to hear it. But he couldn't hear it. He was not conscious.

I waited there for a while, holding his hand in mine. The last thing I remember is setting my head on the bed and then I fell asleep. I guess everything that had happened that day had tired me out. Getting kidnapped (sort of), seeing Rob get shot, waiting for him to go through surgery . . .

And then the next thing I knew, Rob's hand moved. I quickly opened my eyes and saw him looking at me.

I glanced out the window and saw that it was dark out. I must have been sleeping for a while.

"How long have you been awake?" I asked him.

He smiled. "A few minutes." Then he took the hand that I was not holding and attempted to stroke my cheek. I say attempted, because as soon as he got it across his chest, he pulled it back immediately. I guess his chest was hurting. "Ow."

I cracked a smile. "Yeah, about that," I said, "you went into surgery and got the bullet removed. It almost punctured your lung."

"Oh, so that's what happened. I was kind of wondering why I was here. I knew I was shot, but . . ."

I nodded. "Yeah. So, how are you feeling?"

He gave me that infamous half-amused half-disgusted smile. "Besides my chest hurting like hell and my head pounding, just peachy. How 'bout you?"

My smile widened. "Better now that you're awake."

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Yeah," I said. "I was worried about you. Seeing you get shot wasn't exactly a picnic for me, you know. And then waiting for two hours while you were in surgery. And then waiting for you to wake up . . ."

He smiled knowingly. "I know, baby." Then he patted the right side of the bed. "Come here."

I got up from the chair and slid in the bed next to him. "You know," I said, "this kind of reminds me of something."

"Oh? And what would that be?" he asked, bemused.

"I think it involved you with a huge gash in your head from being hit with a mashed potato bowl."

"Oh," he said, "that."

"Yes, that."

Then he grinned. "If I remember correctly, that ended with a very nice kiss . . ."

I laid my head back against the pillow. "It might have." I sighed, remembering that day very clearly. That kiss very clearly.

And then I brought my head back up. I looked in his eyes and he looked right back in mine. "History tends to repeat itself," I muttered and brought my lips down to his.

And, jeez, for a guy in a hospital bed, he could sure kiss.

- § -

Around 8 o'clock, I left the hospital to go see my kids and tell them the (revised) story of what happened.

The doctor had told me before I left that Rob had to stay there for a few days, so they could keep a close watch on the progression of his chest. Hopefully, for my sake, it will be the same as always - hard and impeccably sculptured.

I got back to our apartment about ten minutes later. Kara was there watching television with Autumn and Aaron.

I walked in the living room and smiled at them. Kara saw me and jumped up from the couch. "Oh, you're back! Where's Rob?"

"He's still at the hospital. They have to keep him there for a few more days," I explained. Then I went over to my little sweethearts and started to explain what happened. Sure, they may be little kids, but they were smart for their age. They could retain the information of a ten year old child.

When I got to the part where Rob was shot, Aaron gasped and cried, "Is Daddy dead?"

I laughed. "No, sweetie. He's just in the hospital. You guys can visit him in the morning."

Aaron frowned. "We can't go see him now?"

I shook my head. "Aaron, honey, he needs his rest right now. In the morning he'll feel a lot better and it would be easier for you to talk to him then."

He nodded, still crestfallen. "Okay," he said meekly.

I put my index finger under his chin and lifted it up so his eyes would meet mine. "Aaron, he's going to be fine. He'll be playing baseball with you in no time."

He seemed a little happier. He got up off the couch and skipped away to his room.

I looked at Autumn. She seemed to have no input on it. Which was okay, I guess. I knew Aaron was the one that was really attached to Rob, because he was a guy and Aaron had had no father figure in his life before this.

I took Autumn to her room and told her and Aaron to go to sleep and that we would go see Rob early tomorrow morning. Needless to say, they got into bed right away. I flipped the light switch off and shut the door softly behind me. Then I went back into the living room where Kara was sitting, waiting for me.

"Are you gonna go back tonight?" she asked.

I thought about it. "I was actually planning on it, but I don't want the kids to wake up and find that I'm not here . . ."

"Oh, girl, they'll be fine. I think your man needs you more than your kids do right now." Then, as an afterthought, she added, "and don't think that stunt you pulled today with lying to me about cheating on him had been forgotten."

I laughed. "It was lying to you or getting severely beaten. I think I'd choose lying to you."

She laughed too. "Yeah, I guess. You just seemed so serious and everything . . ."

"Well," I said, "I was trying to convince you."

She just waved her hand. "Whatever."

- § -

I did go back to the hospital that night. I couldn't leave Rob there by himself. I knew from experience that being in a hospital with no one there with you sucked. Horribly.

When I came in he was awake.

"Hey," I said coming into the room.

He turned his head to the doorway and smiled. "Back so soon?"

I smiled and sat down in the chair next to the bed. "I couldn't leave you here alone."

"Who's watching the kids?"

"Kara," I answered.

He nodded. "Ah, I see." When I didn't say anything, he continued. "So, I'm in here for a few more days?"

I nodded. "The doctor wants to keep you at a close watch."

He just shook his head. "Lucky me."

"Don't worry. I'll be here with you most of the time. And I told the twins I would bring them in tomorrow morning to see you."

"Oh," he said. "Well, then why don't you go home and get some rest. I'll be fine here."

I thought about it. I mean, I was really tired. I was running on empty. "You're sure?"

"Jess," he said, "there's not some psycho killer running around the hospital, okay? I'll be fine. Now, shoo. You look like hell right now."

I rolled my eyes. "Gee, thanks."

He smiled. "Anytime."

I just rolled my eyes again. Then I went over to him and leaned down (probably the first time ever with him) and kissed him. He responded quickly, deepening the kiss. He was kissing me like his life depended on it. Who knows, maybe it did.

"Rob," I said in a laughing tone when I pulled away. "I'm coming back in the morning. You can get another kiss then."

"Fine," he said resignedly.

I gave him one last peck on the lips and then said my goodbyes and walked out of his hospital room. And then I went home, relieving Kara of her duty, and went to bed.

As soon as I flopped down on my bed, I fell asleep. I was that tired.

A/N: Bad ending to the chapter, I know. Sorry. But please review anyway? It'll make me happy and maybe I'll start working on the next (and, most likely, final) chapter.